Chapter 16
THE VISITOR
Imagine, if you can, what the rest of the evening was like. How they crouched by the fire, which blazed and leaped and made so much of itself in the little grate. How they removed the covers of the dishes and found rich, hot, savoury soup, which was a meal in itself, and sandwiches, and toast and muffins enough for both of them.The mug from the washstand was used as Becky's teacup, and the tea was so delicious that it was not necessary to pretend that it was anything else but tea. They were warm and full-fed and happy, and it was just like Sara that, having found her strange good fortune real, she should give herself up to the enjoyment of it to the utmost. She had lived such a life of imaginings that she was quite equal to accepting any wonderful thing that happened, and almost to cease, in a short time, to find it bewildering.
«I don't know anyone in the world who could have done it,» she said, «but there has been someone. And here we are sitting by their fire - and - and - and - it's true! And whoever it is - wherever they are - I have a friend. Becky - someone is my friend.»

FRANCES BURNETT, U.K.,
in A Little Princess,1905


Capítulo 16
O VISITANTE
Imaginemos, se possível, como foi o resto da noite. Imaginemo-las sentadas em frente ao lume, que resplandecia e dançava na pequena grelha. Imaginemo-las a levantar as tampas dos pratos e a descobrir uma sopa quente e deliciosa, que já era uma refeição, sanduíches, torradas e bolos em quantidade suficiente para as duas. A caneca do lavatório serviu de chávena a Becky, e o chá era tão bom que não foi necessário supor que era outra coisa qualquer. Estavam quentinhas, bem alimentadas e felizes e Sara, convencida de que a sua incrível boa sorte era real, entregava-se ao prazer de a gozar por inteiro. Tinha passado a vida a imaginar, por isso aceitava naturalmente o que de maravilhoso acontecia e quase deixava, por momentos, de o achar desconcertante.
«Não conheço ninguém no mundo que pudesse ter feito isto,» disse, «mas foi alguém. E eis-nos sentadas diante do seu lume... que... que... é verdadeiro! Seja quem for e esteja onde estiver, eu tenho um amigo. Becky, há alguém que é meu amigo.»